davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
yer, shake and pick from the ground.

| ever, shake and pick from the ground
| The French method of curing prunes is
substantially as follows; The fruit-grower
| dries his fruit in an oven sufficiently to
keep about two weeks without molding.
! The prunes are then sold to factories, where
they are cured in this manner After
| being graded by use of wire screens, they
are packed in long, hollow metal tubes
| After being filled, cap is screwed on them
to make them air-tight. These tubes are
put in steam drum, and live steam is
| turned on, and they are cooked for longer
| or shorter time, according to the size O. tne
fruit, at temperature of 1902 They are
| then ready to pack for the market. The
| peasants frequently cure or bake prunes il
| their bread ovens sufficiently for sale to the
merchant, who grades and packs them.
| 1t is not certain that we need initiate the
| French method of baking the prunes. We
may produce even better results in our own
way. The California sun-dried prune is
! delicious when stewed, while the French,
being already cooked in the process of cur
ing, tastes well before stewing, but becomes
rather insipid afterward.
We can profitably initiate the French
method of grading our prunes into at least
three or four grades. After gathering the
fruit, pass ii over wire sieyes arranged on
| an inclined frame two or three feet wide
and eight or ten feet long. The tanning
I mill movement is given to the frame by
means of wheel turned by hand the
, largest prunes drop through the last and
coarsest sieve, or pass over it entirely if very
large. The French merchants separate
their prunes into several grades; the first
| four, ranging from so to 20 to the pound,
are kept for the European market. The
fifth, or first grade for importation, about
| 20 to the pound, are sent to this country ;
also grades of smaller fruit, with which we
have to compete for a market, with four
grades of prunes, ranging from 40 to 100 to
the pound. Some rule of action should be
adopted by prune-growers and merchants
in California in grading prunes.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
PRUNE RAISING.
THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF
THIS VALUABLE INDUSTRY.
Importations and Home Products
Varieties of Prunes-Methods of
Cultivation and Curing.
by W. H. AIKEN, of Santa Clara County

by w. 81. AIKEN, of Santa Clara County
The word prune is derived from the
Latin prltaanl, which means plum, and
may be more specifically defined as plum
OF fine texture, easily dried whole in the
sun or by artificial heat without ferment-
ing at the pit Prune culture in this State
has become large and growing industry
and to successfully compete with foreign
prunes protective tariff, an intelligent
culture of the trees, and the best method
of curing the fruit is indispensable. The
policy Of this Government is, and has been
from its foundation, the protection OF
home Industries and manufactures by pro-
per duties upon foreign imports. The pro-
ducts of the soil have not been protected
to the same extent or degree as manutact-
ured articles so much used by the farmer,
and especially is this so with the prune.
The tariff of one cent per pound on prunes
was fixed before they were raised TO any
extent in this country, and was rated for
purpose of revenue and not protection, as
appears from the fact that the al tdfOrem
duty on prunes amounts to only ISL per
cent, while the average dd UdLorenl rate OF
duty on all articles is 421 per cent
THE IMPORTATION OF PRUEEs
For the year ending June 30, 1885, was
1851. $50 pounds, valued by importers at
81, 147 sos and for the year ending June
90, 1856, "a ,995, 547 pounds valued at s., 026,-
595-showing an increased importation in
1856 of 1868, 725 pounds, but decrease in
value of Sl20,9l0.
The prune product of California for the
year ending June 80, 1885, was estimated at
1875, 900 pounds, of the value of Sl50000,
at cents per pound. For the year ending
June so, 1886, 1,550,ooO, valued at $4,000,
at cents per pound. showing falling off
in production of $4,000 pounds, and i'll
value of S57, 900. The explanation of this
is that there was not sufficient rainfall last
year to mature large prune that would
command a fair price in competition with
an unusually large and cheap importation.
The prune crop this year is still in the
hands of the producer, and cannot be def
initely estimated; but it may be safely said,
judging from the good quantity and fair
quality on the trees, and the increased bear
ing acreage, that it will amount to about
100000 pounds, which, at cents per
pound Ia low price for 50 good an article,
-uid yield the producer 100000.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

pinched back, after they have grown out a
little, so that the buds will put out Leaves
and shade the stalk the first year. The
second year, remove them and cut back the
limbs to foot in length the third, two
feet, etc.-the object in view being to shape
a handsome tree with strength and bearing
space, which can be attained only by low
training and intelligent pruning.
After about six years of age, when in
full bearing, the tree does not need cutting
back as much as it does thinning out cross
limbs, if any, and pruning out unfruitful
wood. The sprays or small twigs in the
body of the French prune tree should be
cut back to one or two fruit buds, so that
the fruit may be large. Some, however,
advise the removal of all such sprays, as
the fruit on them is small at best.
II is important in pruning to select buds
on the upper side of limbs, as they will
have greater weight. bearing power than
buds forming branches from under side of
boughs. Summer pruning is not advisable
full seasons growth, properly pruned
back in the winter and trained so low that
the branches take natural upward and
oblique direction, will shape a tree that
will be strong ard bread enough TO live
long and be fruitful.
There is a natural adaptation of tree to
root, and it is generally believed that the
apple should be budied upon the apple,
the peach upon the peach, the pear upon
the pear, and the plum upon the plum.
The plum root generally throws out suck
ers from the root, and ought not to be used
in budding plums or prunes. The myro-
bolan plum, however, does not sucker, and
is much preferred as q root for the prune,
especially in rich, damp or heavy soils (;
while in dry, light or sandy soil the peach
root is found to be good for the prune al
though some contend thar the sap starts
earlier and stronger in the peach root than
the prune top is ready to assimilate, and
becomes flooded and unhealthy.
In planting pruae orchards, ascertain
from those in your vicinity upon what root
the prune does the best
METHOD OF CURING PRUSEs.
The French prune should be ripe enough
10 fall from the tree when shaken. Dip
the fruit into boiling-hot mixture of one
pound of concentrated lye in ten gallons of
water. and let it remain long enough to
scald the skins then dip in pure cold water
and put out on frames or boards to dry in
the sun. After the fruit has been out ten
days or two weeks it should be taken up
and put III bins TO heat for few weeks,
then dipped in boiling hot water two min
utes, dried awhile, when it is ready for
packing for the market. Do not dry prunes
too much they will keep without being
dried to death. A common galvanized pail,
made for the purpose, with three-eighths-
inch hcles on sides and bottom, makes the
best dipper.
A canvas cloth may be spread under the
tree, so that in shaking the fruit may be
gathered clean and unbruised. Some, how
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

PLANT CHESTNUT TREEs.-We would sug-
gest to those who live in Shasta and
Tehama counties, that they set out some
chestnut trees, for there is no question that
they viii thrive here and mature the finest
quality of fruit. There are few thrifty, two
year-old trees on Mr. Hays ranch few miles
west of town and on the south side of the
creek, that have made extraordinary growth
without cultivation irrigation or attention
of any kind. Neither are they. in a pro-
teeted or extra good location-there are
thousands of acres in this vicinity that are
equally well adapted for the chestnut Mr.
Ogburn, whose ranch is about fifteen miles
east of here, on Bear creek, sent us in a
fine sample OF the American variety last
week that we regard as a superior quality.
We cannot speak with assurance as TO what
variety would succeed best in our soils and
location, for there isn't sufficient data from
which 70 formulate judgment, but were
we planting grove for the nuts only we
should select the American or the Horse
varieties. If we took into consideration
the element of ornament we should choose
the Spanish.-Shasta Index.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

that were not cut back, and they all had
equal advantages otherwise.
PACKING THE FRUIT FOR MARKET.
think this part of the work should be
done by the dealer, who is supposed to be
prepared for it. In that case, the farmer
could take it out of his sweat-boxes and
market it in clean cotton sacks. though he
can if he pleases put it in suitable packages
for market himself The most convenient
package for the trade, in this country, is
neat, strong sugar-pine box made on pur-
pose for figs. 1t is intended to hold twenty
pounds, but the figs must be pressed in
pretty solid to get in the twenty pounds.
The box is made very strong in order to
stand the heavy pressure. 1t is also made
very tight to make it impossible for
insects to get into the fruit. Figs thus
packed will keep good for years, and these
| packages are a convenient size, also, for
| the merchant to retail from. The figs
| should be hattened out and laid in nice
neat tiers at both top and bottom of the
| box, and also placed with some care and
regularity all through the boxes. If thus
| placed, and then properly pressed, it will
add much to the appearance of the fruit,
and the price secured will well repay for
the trouble. Sometimes boxes are made
to hold only ten pounds and others to hold
thirty, forty and sixty; but the twenty
pound boxes are the most convenient. Mr..
Burnham, of Riverside, puts most of his
crop into small round hoop boxes, holding
a half to two pounds each. He says it
pays him to do it. He tells me that he got
for his figs last season [put up in that shape
from Is to "a cents per pound. and for some
in halfpound boxes he got q cents per
pound. As this industry progresses
and develops a system of uniform pack
ing will be established. Public attention
is being turned to the subject, and l think
it is destined to develop very rapidly, and
that in the near future it will be one of the
most prominent and best paying productive
industries on this coast,
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

Among these the II afStone STANDS at tue
h cad, So far as can be asce:tained.
Tae English Red Antwerp. so called by
some is berry of superior excellence,
outranking the Cuthbert, which has been
held in the highest estimation TIL very
lately. among the newer sorts. Hansel is
another of the newer kinds well spoken Of
1t may be here remarked thet the rasp-
berries, like the grapes Of foreign oriein,
do well generally in CaGfornia.
sIAcE5 ERcTEz
Unit within tic lest few years black
| LeIE1es Lave nc1 LeeL cultivated 10 any
great extent The Boston High Bush was
the first candidate for public favor. This
is sweet berry of medium size. The
fruit comes early IN the season, at least the
bulk of the crop comes on early, the fruit
ripening 50 rapidly that it is all gone in a
few weeks.
The LGwton was brought into this State
soon after its introduction, about 30 years
ago. It was a great acquisition. 1t origi-
mated in New Rochelle, a few miles east of
New York city where it was found wild in
pasture. 1t is one Of the long-cane varie-
ties, but having been browsed by cattle for
, many years it had become shortened in
length and more srocky in body, throwing
out side b anches instead of long canes
Here il may be said, that this pruning has
changed the habit of this plant entirely
and it affords lesson for the fruit-grower
worthy OF being remembered. The iso-
lated plant above referred TO, being in an
open space, exposed to the warm sunshine
when ripening, was made to produce, after
many years of radical change in habit,
type of fruit that seems entirely new
When the Lawton berry was first placed
upon the market it surprised our Oldest and
best pomologists by its superior qualities,
and it taught q lesson which has gone into
fruit literature, showing how superiority
has been produced in the blackberry by
pruning alone. But another lesson has
been learned since by experience, namely,
that this berry would not do for universal
propagation. In central New York, where
the climatic conditions are unfayorable,
the Lawton berry proved a failure, al
though wild blackberries are common in
that section of the country.
a few years after the Lawton had been
disseminated, another new kind was
brought out, this time from the Kittetinny
mountains of Pennsylvania, and called the
Kittetinny. This berry has entirely diff
ferent characteristics from the Lawton or
Boston High Bush. 1t is the largest de-
ciiedly sweet berry We have, and is pre-
ferred for canning and other general use to
either of the other kinds.
The Lawton is a great favorite when
grown to perfection and ripened in the
noon-day sun. 1t will make a palatable
wine fit for medicinal purposes.
Among the new cultivated kinds is the
Crandall, or Texas Extra Early, as it is
sometimes called. This variety is among
the largest, is very fine favored, comes on
two weeks earlier than the Lawton or Kit
tetinny, and lasts, so it would seem, dur
ing the entire summer; at least these re-
markable qualities are attributed to it by
those who know it best, It should be
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

eEALAL IalEALII.E OF FLANIs.
There are three distinct kinds of plants pro-
dueed from seed. The male plant is known as
having stamens only in place of fIuit,
The hermaphrodite berry is called the perfect
plant, containing the pistils and stamens
appearance of the undeveloped berry. 1t has
the strawberry shape, with short, hairy-like
excrescences.
The hermaphrodite has the rudimental berry
surrounded by a tier of stamens, the tips OF
which contain the pollen, fine yellow dust,
which drops the pistils. thus impregnating IL
and producing the fruit. Ants and insects of
various kinds go from plant to plant in quest of
food and carry the pollen from one plant
TO the other, so that q purely pistilate variety
planted near the perfect berry viii be made to
fruit,
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

The names OF prunes cultivated here are
French, German, Italian, Hungarian, Bull
garian aud Silver prunes.
FRENCH PRUNE.
The French prune has been extensively
and probably grown in certain sections CT
this State, where the soil, climate and Other
conditions have proved favorable. The
first trees of the kind were grown by Louis
Pellier, at San Jose, about the year 1857
the graft having been brought from France
by his brother IN December. 1856.
The French prunes which are so largely
exported from France are made of the
Prune d'Agen or date plum, which is also
named Prune d'Ente and Robe de Sargent
The Prune dAgen is, according to the best
authorities, the plum from which the finest
French prunes are made and is known as
the prune of commerce.
OTHER PRUEEs.
The German prune is not generally
grown; but as it contains more acid than
the French, is preferred by some.
The Italian, or Fallenberg prune, some
times called German, is quite well known
it has a rich acid flavor, is of dark color
with blue tint, and is nearly round. The
fruit thins itself and often rather too much
for profit, so that q full crop cannot be de-
pended upon each year.
The Hungarian prune was brought to
San Jose with the French prune, and quite
generally planted and known as Gros prune.
The tree is 3 strong grower and prolific
bearer, the fruit growing large and fine, ii
properly thinned, and it is sometimes
double. 1t has an acid flavor, light red
color, and is in demand green for Eastern
shipment as handsome plum. Ponds
seeding plum is supposed to be its true
name.
The Bulgarian prune is not generally
grown, but is well spoken of by a few at
Haywards, Alameda county, as bearing as
well as the French, resembling the italian
but not quite as large.
The Silver prune was originated by a
Mr.. Alderman, of Dayton, Oregon, who
believes it TO be a Seeding from Goes
Golden Drop plum, but thriftier and
harder tree, and bearing larger fruit; the
tree bears more on the body and the fruit
does not break the tree down, and it ripens
a week or two earlier. Many growers and
nurseymen consider that it cannot be
clearly distinguished from Goes Golden
Drop plun, which is q good plum for dry
ing with the pit.
PRuNE CULTURE.
1n6re seem 10 De no Welt-tStdDtlSutl
rules governing the planting and cultiya-
ton of the prune in California. Il might
be well, however, to state briefly what the
most experienced horticulturists have been
doing, and think essential to be done.
Prepare the soil by deep blowing and
narrowing early in the winter, and set out
trees one year old, about an inch deeper than
in nursery, the scar of old stock to the
north, and not less than 20 feet apart cut
from the ground, and shade on south side
by some convenient shade. Three or four
buds should be allowed to grow at the top,
and the terminal buds Of those below
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-22
Chicago Hernld.

THE worst case of absent-minded-
ness | ever knew of. said hotel keeper
out at Elgin, occurred in my house
few weeks ago. The perpetrator was
my night porter. | was at the desk one
night when man came in so drunk he
couldn't sign his name. He was trav-
cling man whom | knew, and SO of course
| decided to take good care of him.
John, says | to- the porter. take this
man up stairs and put him to- bed, and
put his valise away in the check room
Just then was called away by the sick
ness of member of my family, and |
thought no more of my guest nor of the
porter, whom l saw attending to his
usual duties an hour later. But next
morning a strange discovery was made
The chambermaid on the second floor
reported that in the bed of room IS she
had found a valise. and that there We're
no signs of any persons having occupied
the room during the night. 1t flashed
over me in second that that porter of
nnne. who was queer sort Of a fellow.
had made some blunder, and | went up
stairs 10 investigate. There was the va
iiSe, sure enough. but no sign of the
traveller. | hunted all over the house
without success, and had about given
up in despair. when | happened to go
INTO the check room for something. and
there lay my travelling man asleep ON
the hoor, with valise check No. 81 care
mlly tied around his neck
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-22
Imitation Sugar.

Every one has beard something of the
remarkable substance extracted from
coal tar which is 300 times as sweet as
sugar, and most persons have probably
looked forward with apprehension to the
time when this interesting product
should be surreptitiously substituted for
natural sweetening in the food offered
them to eat, with results which they did
not care to investigate. 1t would seem
that this time is nos very far off, To judge
from an article in the German Sugar
Manufacturers Journal, which says that
an establishment for the production of
the artificial saccharine is now ready for
business in Westerhusen, near Madge-
burg. The material produced in the fac
tory is to be- used, it is said. for mixing
with glucose. One part of the new sac
charine mixed with 800 parts of glucose
gives compound as sweet as the beet
sugar universally used on the continent,
and at a much smaller price, since glu
cose can easily be made out of rags. re-
fuse potatoes or a score of other mex
pensive substances, while the other in
gredient of the initiated sugar is pro
duced with little difficulty from another
chpan material
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-22
American AgricuIturist.

The beans are produced in small
prickly pods or capsules. which are borne
IN pyramidal spikes or clusters Ripen-
ing is indicated by the turning brown of
the pods, which soon burst open and
scatter the seeds. AS soon rs the pods
at the base of a cluster begin To turn
brown, the cluster must be harvested
The stem of the spike or cluster is cut
with sharp knife. and the cluster
thrown into a cart on which barn sheet
or other cloth is spread To save the beans
that shell out. Many growers prefer To
nse sled I'M harvesting; a sled is made
with plank runners. large enough tn hold
two large dryGoods boxes. a single
horse draws this along the lanes. and the
clusters are thrown into the boxes
When the boxes are filed they are taken
To the popping yard" a piece of hard
ground. say a hundred feet square. is
burned over. swept and rolled to get a
hard surface, and surrounded by a board
fence. The clusters are placed in the
center of this. After two d..ys the spikes
must be turned, using rakes for the pur-
pose. AT the end of four or five iays
the beans will have popped out. when
the refuse is removed. The beans are
swept up, To be cleaned by a tanning
mill. and another lot of clusters brought
in
The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-22
Fruit Growing for Women.
American Agriculturist.


4 Massachusetts woman having an
hour or two each day to spare from
house work, and wishing to earn a little
money. decided to try raising strawber
ries for market. Her piece of land was
fifty-seven feet wide. The plants We're
well taken care of through the seasC n,
and the last of October the bed received
a final hoeing, and little later the plants
were mulched about Two inches deep
with pine needles. Before the picking
season commenced, she bargained with
a market-man a mile and half distant,
to take all her berries, by allowing him,
as his share, four cents basket for all
berries sold for twenty cents. and over,
and three cents for those bringing less.
In picking, she was careful to put in
only sound fruit, to have as large Der
ries mt the bottom of the basket as on
top, and to have them heaped as high as
the crate would allow. 1t being poor
year for straw berries. owing to drOuth,
which did not affect her low ground. she
received good prices. None Were sold
for less than fifteen cents basket. The
entire crop sold was $50 baskets. for
which she received fifty-two dollars and
eighty cents. Expenses We're twenty
one dollars and tifty-tive cents leaving
net profit of thirty-one dollars and
TWENTY-FIVE cents.